Disappearing coffin-panel.



A. FISHER.

DISAPPEARING COPFIN PANEL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1913.

I 1 099,436, I Patented June 9, 1914.

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ALFRED FISHER, 0F IDALLASQTEXASQASSIGNOR TO DALLAS COFFIN 00., 01? DALLAS, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS.

DISAPPEARING GOIEFIN-IPANEL.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 7, 1913. Serial No. 759,314.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED FISHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and use.

ful Improvements in Disappearing Coffin- Panels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to coffin lids and pan ticularly to lids constructed in sections, and the object is to provide coffin lids with disappearing sectionsso that the interior of the coffin may be inspected without taking the coflin lid off and a further object is to provide a coffin lid with a disappearing section which will not change the ornamental appearance of the coffin lid and to provide devices by which the disappearing section can be easily and quickly moved either when the section is to disappear or when the section is to be brought back to closing position.

Other objects and advantages will be fully explained in the following description and the invention will be. more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a coflin lid. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a coffin, showing the disappearing section and the devices for directing the movement of the moving section. Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssection.

Silnilar characters of reference are used to indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

A coffinof ordinary construction is shown in the drawings and a lid 1 of ordinary appearance is provided. At each end of the coflin are provided suitable fastening devices 1, for securing the lid in position.

A disappearing section 11 is provided in.

the lid 1. The lid has a raised portion 12 which is rigid with the lid 1. Means are provided for the movement of the disappearing section 11. Inclinedtracks 13 are attached to vertical parts of the interior of the lid and triangular blocks 14 are attached to each side of the section 11 on=the under side of the edge. Longitudinal beams. or bars 17 are attached to the lid immediately below the tracks 13. When the section is to disappear, the blocks 14 will slide onthe inclines 13 part of the distance and then con tinue on the bars 17 The forward edge of the section 11 will never leave the tracks 13 because the section will stop against the stops l6 whlch are attached to the bars 17. The section 11 will disappear under the ralsed portion 12 of the lid. The section 11 can be drawn to normal position by any suitable means. A frame 15 carries a plate of glass or other transparent material so that the interior can be inspected when the section 11 has disappeared. The frame 15 can be moved on the bars 17 if necessary to make 1 any adjustment of the corpse.

The disappearing section is held normally 1n position to conform to the general contour of the lid by the tracks 13 and by the blocks 14;. It is made possible for the sect1on 11 to disappear by having the raised portion of the lid so that there is nothing to prevent the starting of the movement of the lid. The inclined tracks permit the section 11 to go low enough to prevent contact with the raised portion 12 or the other permanent part of the lid. Normally the lid of the coffin has the appearance of a complete rigid structure like coflin lids of ordinary construction. Consequently, the ornamental appearance of the lid is not marred by having a disappearing section. The lid has the convenience of interior inspection and adjustment without removal of the lid.

Various changes may be made in the construction of the lid without departing from my invention.

The operating mechanism above described is supported under the coffin lid by a quadrangular frame 18, the bars 17 being at tached to the frame 18 which is rigidly attached to the coffin lid.

What I claim is,-

1. Acoffin lid comprising a fixed section, and a rigid movable section, an inclined track extending substantially throughout the length of said movable section and serving to support and guide the same, and horizontal bars on which one end, of said mov- Patented Julie 9, 1914i..

track, the rear end of said movable section being provided with downwardly projecting slopingedges, said edges being arranged to engage the inclined track and raise the rear of said movable section as it approaches closed position.

3. A coflin lid comprising fixed and. movable rigid sections, normally lying in the same plane, and a raised intermediate por tlon overlapping both sald sections, and

means for guiding said movable section comprising inclined tracks on which such section rests when in normal position, h0rizontal tracks on which the rear of said section I of March, 1913.

rides when shifted to open position, and

means for guidingthe rear. of said movable lifted into proximity with said raised por 20 tion.

In testimony whereof, I set my hand in the presence of two witnesses, this 26th day "A FR FISHER.

Witnesses: V

WALTER L, THQRNLAND, W. S. YOUNG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of iatents,

Washington, D. G. 

